Ever had a fantasy about what you'd do with a sudden fortune? 'O Mandarim' takes that daydream and gives it a dark, hilarious twist.

The Story

Teodoro is a low-level government clerk in 19th-century Lisbon, drowning in debt and dreaming of luxury. One night, a devilish figure appears and tells him he can inherit the vast wealth of a Mandarin in China—but only if Teodoro rings a bell to kill him. After a moral struggle (a short one), Teodoro rings the bell. The money floods in, and he lives his dream of high society in Paris. The catch? He's haunted by the ghost of the Mandarin, a silent, accusing presence that ruins every pleasure. Teodoro's attempt to escape this spectral debt makes up the wild second half of the book.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't just a ghost story; it's a brilliant character study of guilt and emptiness. Queirós writes with a wicked sense of humor, poking fun at high society, greed, and human hypocrisy. Teodoro is a fantastic character—you watch him transform from a pitiful dreamer into a miserable rich man, and you somehow feel for him even as he makes terrible choices. The book moves at a lightning pace and packs more ideas into 100 pages than most novels do in 300.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves classic stories with a modern, ironic edge. If you enjoy the moral puzzles of Oscar Wilde or the social satire of someone like Twain, you'll adore this. It's a short, potent shot of literary genius—ideal for a thoughtful weekend read that will stick with you long after you finish.